Even More Money to Fix Kent Potholes

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Heart has been told another £1.5 million is going to be spent on fixing potholes in Kent's roads.

In the first six months of this year 100,000 have been filled in - which is double the number during the same time in 2009.

The 'Find and Fix' scheme, which has been running since the roads were damaged by the really bad weather last winter, has seen tarmac crews out across the county repairing every fault they find on minor and rural roads in the county.

The total estimated cost of the campaign is £6.5 million which includes £2.4 million from the Government.

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste Nick Chard said:

“The ‘find and fix’ approach is very different to the way we operated in previous years. In the past, only defects that were safety-related would have been repaired. Now, crews are fixing every single fault in a road and as a result carrying out around six times the amount of work than we would have done previously.

“The roads are being repaired giving priority to village through-routes and school runs and on a worst-first basis. We know this is an important issue for residents and businesses across the county and the response we have had back so far is very positive. Since mid-June our own road crews that look after the main road network have also adopted a ‘find and fix’ approach.

“This takes time, of course. We estimate it will take until early-autumn to repair the entire minor road network, so we are asking residents to bear with us. We are dedicated to getting round all our roads and some cases it will be later, rather than sooner, so please be patient.”

In order to protect the biggest investment in Kent’s road maintenance for many years, Kent Highway Services will increase its surface dressing programme, which seals the surface, preventing water seeping into the road and causing damage, and restores a road’s skid resistance. Roads are ‘dressed’ by spraying them with hot bitumen before chippings are applied and rolled in.

Nick Chard added:

“This will ensure that the significant investment made through the ‘find and fix’ programme is protected over the coming years.”